Motion: Chemical Contamination: Firefighting Foams

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (15:44): I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 144 standing in my name for today relating to contamination by firefighting foams, by omitting in subparagraph (a)(i) the words 'public health'.

Leave granted.

Senator RHIANNON:I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the chemical contamination on and around Defence, airport and firefighter training sites across Australia of per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), resulting from the use of legacy firefighting foams, is a national environmental, economic and workplace safety issue,

(ii) preliminary tests conducted at 12 investigation sites around the country detected PFAS at every site, and PFAS levels exceeding interim standards at three sites,

(iii) it has been three weeks since the Department of Defence released the preliminary investigation report, and

(iv) the Turnbull Government has not yet commented on the report; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) urgently consult with all residents living in and around every investigation site, and

(ii) urgently consult with all workers, including former workers, who have been exposed to PFAS through the use of firefighting foams.